The study is called “The Importance of Early Sexual Experiences Among Men Who Have Sex with Men,” and it’ll be conducted by Dr. Matthew R. Golden at the University of Washington in Seattle. It’s been approved by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), a division of the National Institutes of Health, with a $252,000 multi-year grant. And it sounds like it’s going to be some pretty interesting research!

Men who have sex with men (MSM) experience rates of HIV and bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI) that are many times those experienced by heterosexuals in the U.S. Despite the widely acknowledged importance of sexual behavior in defining HIV/STI transmission dynamics, little is known about how MSM form patterns of sexual behavior, what factors predict these patterns, and how those behavioral patterns change over a person’s life. We propose to conduct a cohort study of 100 MSM who are: 1) age 16-20 with 1-3 lifetime male sex partners, or 2) age 16-30 within 3 years of their same-sex sexual debut.

[…] The study’s first aim is to define the feasibility of enrolling a diverse sample of MSM near the time of same-sex sexual debut, following the cohort for 1 year, collecting frequent sexual behavioral data, and serially testing these men for HIV/STI. Success will be defined based on the number of men who enroll and complete the study, and the proportion who complete all questionnaires and HIV/STI testing.

The study’s second aim is to assess the feasibility of using web-based sex diaries to collect sexual behavior data and to identify the appropriate diary schedule. MSM will be randomly assigned diary schedules and we will compare the frequency of reported behaviors across diary schedules and against the retrospective questionnaire data.

Finally, for the third aim we will conduct three analyses. First, we will asses the association between early sexual development and the context of initiation of contact with the gay community. Second, we will investigate the association between the context of same-sex sexual debut and risk behavior observed throughout the one year of follow-up. Third, investigators will conduct exploratory analyses to define patterns of sexual behaviors such as condom use, HIV status disclosure, and sexual role and repertoire.

Basically, the researchers want to know how same-sex sexual behavior begins and develops over time, and whether (or rather, how) that behavior contributes to STDs/STIs. Sounds reasonable to me.

But because we’re talking about MALE TEENAGERS HAVING SEX WITH OTHER MEN, it’s time to freak out about it. Which is just what the right-wing CSN News is doing:

CNSNews.com asked both Golden and NIAID the following question: “The Census Bureau says the median household income in the United States is $52,000. How would you explain to the average American mom and dad–who make $52,000 per year–that taxing them to pay for this grant was justified?

To which the National Institutes of Health responded appropriately:

This information will help scientists design more effective HIV and STI prevention programs for men who have sex with men in the United States, especially for those at highest risk for infection. With the lifetime cost of HIV/AIDS treatment in the United States estimated to range from $470,600 to $665,500 per person in 2004 dollars (which is $550,000 to $779,000 per person in 2010 dollars), it is more cost-effective to prevent HIV infection than to treat it.”

So when “the average American mom and dad” reading CNSNews.com finds out their son is a sexually active human being, research like this will be in place to help prevent them from contracting HIV. And so crap like this doesn’t happen.

Honestly if I were running things, I’d recommend lowering the study’s 16-year-old floor, ’cause gay teens be havin’ The Sex earlier and earlier these days.

Oh Goody!! I can finally get rid of my daily sexual conquest hand written journal which I have been recording my hookups in…………..

Oct 1, 2010 at 12:51 pm · @Reply ·

EdWoody

While I applaud the goal of the study, it’s not really necessary. Just teach school kids that The Gays sometimes like to have The Sex and that they should use protection, and problem (mostly) solved.

Of course, that’s if we were living in a sensible country instead of a mouth-foamingly puritanical one.

Oct 1, 2010 at 2:37 pm · @Reply ·

Baxter

@EdWoody: I think we also have to accept that a lot of people aren’t going to use protection no matter what you tell them. I seriously doubt that there’s a large group of people who haven’t heard yet that unprotected sex is bad for your health. Kind of like how people continue to smoke even though we’ve known for hundreds of years that it’s bad for you.

Oct 1, 2010 at 3:36 pm · @Reply ·

Frank

I had to comment and I was PART OF THIS STUDY for the last year! It in no way encourages young men (I am 29 myself) to talk about and flaunt their M2M experiences. In fact its the complete opposite! They ask about your current and past relationships (even if it only lasted 20 min), to find out how to ENCOURAGE men to use protection and safe practices! The diary comment was completely taken out of context as they ask when you started (myself actually 16 at the time) not to enourage, but to see how young they need to start talking to (questioning) youth. I hate the Christian fundimentalists and wish them AIDS and all the STD’s known!!

Oct 1, 2010 at 6:25 pm · @Reply ·

jason

The best advice that I can give to men who engage in same-sex experiences is to not be promiscuous. Promiscuity is dangerous. Promiscuity, especially on the “gay scene”, is amplified by the ghetto-like nature of this scene. Combine promiscuity with ghetto and you get a test tube ripe for the cultivation of sexually transmitted illnesses.

Your sexual orientation does not cause sexually transmitted illnesses. Your sexual orientation is pure, a wonderful thing. Your sexual orientation is to be celebrated and loved. Never, ever be ashamed of it.

Have you ever tried to tune up your finances or maybe drop a few pounds? Keeping a dairy of your experiences seems (to me) to improve your chances of acting the way that you really want to. Guess what: 16 year olds have sex. I did. Being accountable, even to a diary, might be a good thing. and PS: it’s freakin AMAZING that I didn’t seroconvert when I was 16-19, because I was all over the map. I hope kids today are a LOT smarter than I was.

Oct 1, 2010 at 9:21 pm · @Reply ·

jason

Fitz,

Young adults – especially males – want to have lots of sex because they have just been through puberty and have all these hormones bubbling away. It’s understandable.

But I think they need guidance when entering a male-male paradigm such as the gay scene. The male-male paradigm is conducive to promiscuity. You’ve got horny A + horny B, basically.

I despair when I see young men entering the gay scene with the express purpose and desire to have sex with as many men as possible. This ain’t a responsible purpose or desire. It’s not even a gay rights notion.

Oct 1, 2010 at 9:55 pm · @Reply ·

Fitz

@jason: 100% cosign. Being able to have gay sex is NOT the same thing as being gay-positive. 1/2 of the time it’s just projective identification anyway: the world calls us perverts, and then we act it out. Thats not who I choose to be today, and I hope the youth can make good decisions.

Oct 1, 2010 at 10:35 pm · @Reply ·

jason

Fitz,

“Projective identification” is a fascinating concept. I think you’ve got a point. It’s as if people go out of their way to confirm the very stereotypes that exist of them.

I admire your willpower. In the gay scene, it’s refreshing to see people who aren’t swayed by the cascade of sexual marketing. The word “gay” has been so abused by marketing forces, it’s as if gay is defined by promiscuity, six-pack abs, and ecstasy-powered dance parties.

They ask about your current and past relationships (even if it only lasted 20 min), to find out how to ENCOURAGE men to use protection and safe practices! The diary comment was completely taken out of context as they ask when you started (myself actually 16 at the time) not to enourage, but to see how young they need to start talking to (questioning) youth. http://where-can-i-find-gay-sex.blogspot.com/